Description: This erect bryozoan grows in a branching form, eventually forming a three-dimensional structure up to 30-40 mm in height. It is usually a creamy yellow to pale orange in colour and has a distinctive spiky appearance due to some features of the individual zooids, namely a large, hooked avicularium.

Habitat: Bedrock, boulders, shell, stones and even other large hydroids (e.g. Nemertesia antennina) or erect bryozoans (e.g. Cellaria spp.). Found down to around 80 m.

Distribution: Recorded all around Britain and Ireland's coasts.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Palmiskenea skenei although in that species the branches are very flattened. Could also potentially be confused with Cellepora pumicosa when young, before the erect branching growth is more prominent.

Key Identification Features:

• Creamy yellow to pale orange colony.
• 3D branching growth form.
• 30-40 mm in height.
• Spiky appearance.

Distribution Map from NBN: Omalosecosa ramulosa at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Omalosecosa ramulosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Omalosecosa ramulosa

WoRMS: Omalosecosa ramulosa at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Omalosecosa ramulosa (Linnaeus, 1767). AphiaID: 111281.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Bryozoa; Gymnolaemata; Cheilostomatida; Flustrina; Celleporoidea; Celleporidae; Omalosecosa